FAQ

In this situation, the sensor will behave correctly. You should be able to get consistent readings from the sensor, unless the reflectivity of the target is very low.

Tthe sensor range and measurements capability will vary depending on the measured range, the external light conditions and the target reflectivity. The further the range, the harder it will become for the sensor’s emitted signal to do the round trip because it is less and less focused. The more you raise the ambient light, the harder it will be for the sensor to beat the external interferences. The less reflective the target, the more the emitted signal will be absorbed and thus, harder to identify. In this situation if the target has a low reflectivity and is exposed to a bright light, it will definitively reduce the sensor’s performances and risks oversaturating it.

Yes. Depending on the measured range, the light conditions and the target’s reflectivity, the sensor will change its ‘exposition time’. All this is perfectly handled automatically by the sensor thanks to its factory calibration.

Yes, in this situation the sensor gets lots of interferences from the sun that are reflected on the target. If you took a picture with a photo camera with strong sunlight, at some point, the picture would be overexposed (very bright) and you could not clearly distinguish the details. Even though we calibrate our sensors, it is difficult to replicate the power of the sun in the infrared wavelength and unfortunately this is one of the limits of infrared LED technology.

It is possible, but you need to take some factors into account. You will need to use a material that will allow the wavelength of light emitted by the sensors to passthrough unhindered. You will also need to give some consideration to the housing to ensure that emitted light is not reflected back into the receiver by the glass or cover material. If you have an OEM or higher volume requirement, we can work with you to assist you with the integration. Please contact us for further discussion.

Our ToF sensor modules deal with multiple targets by averaging the distance between the objects. The average is weighted according to the object emitting the strongest return signal. In the majority of cases, this will likely correlate to the largest object. It could also relate to surface reflectivity relative to the other objects. To discuss your specific application please contact us.

Our ToF sensor modules emit and receive infrared light. They work very well on most surface types and in a wide range of conditions.

For all active ToF sensors, a highly light absorbing material will absorb some of the emitted light and result in a weaker return signal. A weaker return signal may reduce the maximum attainable range, update rate or reading accuracy. Highly reflective surfaces usually return a strong signal, but in some cases, the light can be reflected off at an angle and also result in a weaker return signal. Ultimately we always advise you to test sensors for the specific applications and conditions you have in mind. To discuss your specific application please contact us.

Our ToF sensor modules have been mounted on drones, robots and in many other applications where they were subject to vibrations. The sensor modules continue to function according to the specification where vibrations experienced were within reasonable limits and to date none of our sensors have been returned due to vibration damage.

Underwater environments represent a challenge for optical-based sensors. There are many variables and the only way to know if they might meet your requirements is to test them. Generally, seawater will quickly absorb the infrared light emitted by ToF sensors, so range will certainly be compromised.

Our ToF sensors are not waterproof and would need to be integrated within a waterproof housing and that alone needs careful consideration. If you have a high volume application, we can potentially work with you on a project basis to build a suitable solution which may be based on optical or other technologies. If this is the case, and you are looking for a development partner, please contact us.

Yes, we have tested our sensor modules over water and they detect its surface; customer tests have also confirmed this. Results may vary depending on the type of water (clear, or with waves and foam, etc) and we always recommend performing a test for your specific application and conditions.

You can expect the sensor module to read the surface when the water is not perfectly transparent and still.

Yes. Our ToF sensor modules are ‘active’, meaning that they emit and receive their own light pulses.  This means our sensor modules work very well in dark conditions.

We actually started out as a drone services provider and the sensors were initially conceived for drone use, so it’s an application we know very well. We have many customers using TeraRanger sensors to complement drone vision systems.

You can use the TeraRanger Tower Evo for collision avoidance purposes. You may also use the TeraRanger Evo 60m or TeraRanger One as a precision altimeter for stable altitude hold, terrain following and auto landings. For more information please read our use case on the subject.

Rain, fog, and snow can all affect optical sensing devices. The final performance of the sensors will depend on the intensity of the environmental conditions. We recommend that you conduct your own testing with a sample sensor to check if it suits your specific environment and operating conditions.

The answer depends on which product you intend to buy. You will find a link in the downloads section to each product’s user manual in the downloads section of each product page.